2012

58% of Iranians use Facebook despite blocks and censorship, study finds

blogss 10:15 AM Facebook , internet , Iran , Middle East , News

The Iranian online research panel, has released highlights from its syndicated study and infographic, Iran Web 2.0.

The latest installment is the third in a series designed to inform foreign and local companies on the attitudes and behaviours of Iranian consumers and professionals. The study sample covers 2,300 respondents who live in Iran and was taken at the end of October.

With regards to social media sites, 58% of respondents said they regularly use Facebook and 37% use Google+. Local Iranian network Cloob garnered 14% of responses with Twitter and LinkedIn claiming 12% each. Around a third of those who took the survey said they use social media sites for at least an hour each day.

When it comes to digital consumption and production, the group was equally active. 23% said they post photos and 20% post or repost music or video clips. 22% said they run their own blog and 45% read and contribute to online forums or discussion boards.

“Iranians are amongst the highest consumers and producers of online content in the region,” said Amir-Esmaeil Bozorgzadeh, the Managing Partner of Conovi, the parent company behind the online research panel. “They are keen to participate and keep apace with everything digital.”
Social or censored?

Indeed citizens in Iran may be keen to participate online, but access to the open Web and censorship are still points of contention. A report earlier this year about the state of the Internet for people inside Iran showed some poor results and around 27% of all Internet sites blocked. It’s surprising to see so many people claiming regular use of Facebook as the site is often blocked and citizens gain access to it and other sites via virtual private networks (VPNs).

Add to this the habit of the State monitoring cyber cafe activity, the blocking of VPNs and the ongoing plans for the country to run its own separate Internet and the initial picture from this research looks a little less social.

While so many people are chatting away on social platforms in this study, it seems that it’s more a matter of what you say rather than where you are online in Iran. Yesterday the Guardian reported that Iranian blogger and Facebook activist Sattar Beheshti, may have died in custody. According to the report, his relatives said they received phone calls from prison authorities asking them to collect his body.

The alleged death has not been independently verified, but many opposition activists involved in the protests following the 2009 elections ended up in the Kahrizak detention center which is home to multiple grim tales of torture and death. Beheshti had been defending human rights on the Internet.
Changing relationships

However dark the overall view of the Internet in Iran may be, it seems that studies like the one from Chimigi show that there are more regular activities taking place, likely within the country’s moral code.

The research says that some Iranians reported negative effects on the quality of their relationships with one-third admitting reduced communication between family members. 65% said that text messaging is their preferred form of contact between friends followed by online chat (43%), instant messenger (38%) and social media networks (36%).

The demographics of the audience consisted of a highly educated audience, 66% of which possess a bachelors degree or higher (15% hold a masters degree). 22% are 18-24 years of age, 48% between 25-34, and 26% between 35-54. The majority of respondents are male (79%), 47% are reportedly single, and 49% are married. 52% lived in households with 3-4 people, while 36% lived with 1-2 people.

The full report is available on request from Conovi.

Iran’s online technology is not to be sniffed at and the more fortunate part of the population with higher education and higher incomes certainly use social media online. However, if the plans to create a national intranet come to pass, these statistics could be wildly different depending on which areas the government prefers to block or include.

Best Top apps for smartphones and tablets in 2012

blogss 9:47 AM Game Apps , Reviews , smartphones

IPhone, iPad and Android owners, in particular, can benefit from inexpensive (or free) downloads ranging from music discovery and photo sharing to digital magazines and smart productivity tools.

For a small sampling of what 2012 had to offer, consider the following a few of our favorites — not listed in any particular order — as well as a few updated apps and some "must own" oldies but goodies.

Action Movie FX
Bad Robot Interactive's free app for Apple devices lets anyone add Hollywood-like special effects to their real surroundings. First, use your device's camera to record something around you — perhaps a co-worker smiling in the office — then initiate a virtual missile strike, which rains down on their desk. There are dozens of effects, some of which require an in-app purchase for 99 cents apiece. When you like what you've captured, share the humorous video clip with the world — right from your device. Video gamers might also like the explosive Call Of Duty: Black Ops II-themed options found inside this fun app.

The free Songza app is an excellent music streaming service with custom playlists created by music experts.(Photo: Songza)

Songza
Available on Apple iOS, Android and Kindle Fire, the free Songza is an excellent music streaming service with custom playlists created by music experts. These collections of songs are meant to "play you the right music at the right time." You can tap to select a playlist based on your mood or location, as well as by genre and decade. Examples include "Music While Working" (with or without lyrics), "Music for a Weekday Dance Party," "The Holidays" or even ones like "Songs in Apple Commercials." You'll see album artwork and information per track; save all your favorite playlists and share them with friends; or skip forward between tracks (with some limitations on how often you can do it). Did we mention it's completely free?

Google Maps
As the old saying goes, "You don't know what you've got until it's gone." Apple replaced Google Maps — the awesome navigation app for mobile devices — with its own Maps app this past fall. But after numerous complaints about its inaccuracies and a lack of features (such as no public transit info), not only did Apple CEO Tim Cook publicly apologize for the kerfuffle, but a new-and-improved Google Maps app was allowed back in the App Store in mid-December. Along with getting accurate turn-by-turn directions to a destination, the new Google Maps — also on Google's Android devices (of course), and BlackBerry — also offers smart local searches (with reviews and ratings), a 360-degree Street View and the option to sync your searches and directions between your computer and your phone.

The Snapguide app for iOS.(Photo: Snapguide)

Snapguide

While the YouTube app still rocks for its sheer quantity of videos, those looking for user-created "how-to" guides need look no further than the free Snapguide app for iOS. Learn to make beef jerky at home, how to open a beer bottle without an opener to perform a magic trick. A number of holiday-themed Snapguides are also available, such as "How to Make a Wine Cork Wreath" and "How to Make Spiced Chocolate Cupcakes With Eggnog Icing" (yum). Each guide offers a step-by-step lesson with photos or videos, along with written descriptions at the bottom of the screen. Simply swipe to the left to turn to the next page or swipe up for a list of what you need to perform the task. If you sign up for a free account, you can also leave comments, privately message other users, "follow them" to be alerted when there's a new lesson or start your very own Snapguide.

Pocket

Quite simply, Pocket lets you easily save content you like so you can read it later. It's not bookmarking: You don't need an Internet connection to access the content at a later time. Pocket works inside many hundreds of apps, and you can access your saved content on multiple devices by signing into your free account. Consider it a DVR for any online content you want to check out when you have the time. Formerly Read It Later, Pocket also includes a simplified user interface with fewer toolbars; new filters that let you switch between videos, images and text; and easier-to-organize content, including adding favorites, bulk editing and tagging options for simpler searches.

The SwiftKey 3 app can help complete your typing.(Photo: SwiftKey 3)

SwiftKey 3
Typing on a smartphone or touchscreen tablet is a challenge for many, but apps like Swype make the task faster and more accurate while e-mailing, texting, note-taking or posting to social-media sites. And now there's something even better: SwiftKey 3 ($1.99). Arguably the best Android keyboard to date, SwiftKey 3 cleverly makes real-time corrections and predictions as you type. Even if you're sloppy and miss some spaces between words, this app can help. SwiftKey 3 also learns the words and phrases you use often, making it more accurate the more you use it. There are more than 50 supported languages, and the app supports various "skins" to change up the look of the keyboard. IPhone users might consider Path Input Pro ($3.99) or Swype as alternative keyboards to Apple's default one.

Older, but 'must-have' apps

While these apps didn't make their debut over the past year, consider them essentials for your smartphone or tablet:

• Skype (iOS, Android and Windows Phone) and FaceTime (iOS) let you video chat for free with friends and family, anywhere in the world, by using your device's front- or rear-facing camera. Both apps work over Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity.

• Flipboard is like your own personalized magazine. Select topics that matter to you and then flip through various articles and media. You can post your favorite pieces to social media. Created for iOS (especially iPad) and Android.

• A "cloud" storage app is a must, so you can access files stored securely elsewhere. After all, your smartphone or tablet is limited in the amount of files it can house internally. Recommended free apps include SkyDrive, SugarSync, Box, Dropbox and Google Drive.

• Watch thousands of streaming movies and TV shows on your smartphone or tablet with Netflix (free, but service costs $8/month). Especially ideal for larger screens, the app works on iOS, Android and Windows-based smartphones and tablets.

• Got a million-dollar idea while on the go? Write, type or speak it inside of Evernote(free), a powerful tool for all major mobile platforms. Not only does Evernote help you flesh out your ideas and stay organized, but the app is cloud-enabled, therefore everything is immediately synchronized with many other Evernote-supported platforms, such as your PC or Mac.

• Now that the company has addressed issues over photo rights, the free Instagram app (iOS; Android) is an excellent tool for adding fun filters to your smartphone or tablet pictures, sharing them with the Instagram community and following others you admire.

• Facebook and Twitter have both updated app offerings in 2012, and are key ones to download and use if you're a fan of these social networks — opposed to logging into these services via the mobile Web browser. Smartphones and tablets also offer integrated support for these major players, therefore you upload text and media to your circle of friends while in other apps.

• Not only does TuneIn Radio Pro (99 cents; for all major platforms) give you more than 50,000 radio stations from around the world — from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — but most versions of the app also let you record songs you like to listen to at a later time, and also play, pause and skip around programming like a DVR.

• One of the best apps for kids is the free Toontastic (iPad), which lets you create and narrate your own animated cartoon. Choose the backdrop and characters — or create your own — and animate the story in real time. When the work is completed, parents can allow the video to be shared on the kid-friendly ToonTube.

VMK launch 'first African-designed' smartphone and tablet

blogss 9:22 AM Africa , VMK

A smartphone and tablet said to be the first designed by an African company have beenlaunched.

The products, designed by Congolese entrepreneur Verone Mankou, are manufactured in China.

His company VMK's devices run Google's Android software. They will retail at $170 (£105) for the smartphone and $300 (£185) for the tablet.

"Only Africans can know what Africa needs," said Mr Mankou at the Tech4Africa conference in Johannesburg.

"Apple is huge in the US, Samsung is huge in Asia, and we want VMK to be huge in Africa."

Technology blog Smartplanet reports that the tablet offers wi-fi connectivity and four gigabytes of internal storage. Its name, Way-C, means "the light of the stars" in the local Lingala language.

The smartphone has rear and forward facing cameras and a 3.5in (8.9cm) screen.

There are plans to sell the devices across 10 other West African countries as well as Belgium, France and India.

Mr Mankou said he hoped to launch a cheaper tablet for students next year.First?

The devices will come up against several already well-established and popular brands.

Most notably, Blackberry-maker Research in Motion (RIM) has a significant presence on the continent, despite flagging sales in the western market.
The tablet is similar in size to Samsung's Galaxy Tab

Popular too are handsets from Nokia which is working closely with Facebook to grow African's interest in both mobile communication and social networking.

However, there is an increasing desire among African communities to support homegrown products, spurred on by fledgling technology scenes in various cities across the region.'Offended'

Attempts to be seen as African have caused some firms to be accused of dishonesty. Companies were highly criticised after they were deemed to be marketing products that were made offshore but simply branded locally.

VMK insisted that while the product was manufactured in China for cost reasons, the design and engineering was entirely African.

A page on the company's website stressed that statement, saying: "We are somewhat offended by the disregard of those who persist in denying the authentication of our products, despite evidence.

"Most of those critics are either Afro-pessimistic (who argue that 'nothing good can come from Africa'), or just (future) competitors."

The company added that unlike previous "African" smartphones and tablets, there were no products matching the VMK devices in other countries under different branding.

(Source: BBC)

Analyst: iPad Mini in hot demand in China

blogss 3:17 PM Apple , Asia , business , Market , News

From Cnet:

Chinese consumers are going gaga over Apple's diminutive tablet, says analyst Brian White.
Apple's iPad Mini is creating a frenzy among Chinese tablet buyers, according to Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White.

Checks of retailers in China and Hong Kong show "an insatiable appetite" for the Mini, leading to a supply shortage, White said in an investors note out today. Stores in China are out of stock, while those in Hong Kong are sold out of nearly all flavors of the 7-inch tablet.

The iPad Mini is proving much more popular in China and Hong Kong than its bigger 4th-generation brother, which remains in stock.

"Prior to the China launch, we indicated that the iPad Mini would be the 'next big thing in China' and we believe this phenomenon is starting to develop," White said in his note. "In our view, the smaller form factor and lower price point will allow Apple to sell the iPad Mini in more meaningful volumes versus the regular-size iPad."

The Mini and the 4th-gen iPad debuted in Hong Kong on November 2 and in China on December 7.

Apple recently opened new retail stores in Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Beijing, and now has eight stores in China, compared with five a year ago. Hong Kong now is home to three Apple stores from just one a year ago.

The iPhone 5 is also seeing strong demand across China, according to White. Unlike the iPad Mini, Apple's latest phone is available for walk-in customers as its supply has improved. But the new iPhone seems to be outshining the competition.

"After the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note I/II became more popular than the iPhone 4S in recent months, our discussions now indicate that the iPhone 5 has recently become the most popular high-end smartphone at the resellers that we spoke with," White said.

Wikipedia's most-viewed articles in 2012

blogss 3:11 PM internet , Trends , Wikipedia

From Cnet.com:

English speakers seem to be interested in action movies, boy bands, and Facebook.

New stats compiled by Swedish software engineer Johan Gunnarsson detail the top 100 most-viewed articles on Wikipedia over the past year. The online encyclopedia doesn't create its own year-end list but does let people read its log files, according to AllThingsD. This top 100 list compiled by Gunnarsson, which comes in several languages, is the first time users can see Wikipedia's most popular articles over the course of a year.

For the English language Wikipedia, which is the most popular version of the site, "Facebook" won as the most viewed article, with more than 32.5 million visits. "Wiki" came in second, with more than 29.5 views, and "Deaths in 2012" was third, with almost 25.5 views.

According to AllThingsD, Gunnarsson gives a couple of explanations for why Facebook is No. 1. First is that people may be interested in popular Web properties, and second, users type in Facebook and mistakenly go to Wikipedia instead of the social-networking site.

Among the other top 10 most viewed pages were those for the boy band One Direction and for action movies, including "The Avengers," "The Dark Knight Rises," and "The Hunger Games."

Looking more broadly -- in the top 100 -- people were interested in all sorts of different topics, from sex to World War II to Steve Jobs. There are definite patterns with pop culture icons, like Justin Bieber and Rihanna, and movies and TV shows, like "The Amazing Spiderman" and "Game of Thrones." A few oddballs include the word "elocution," the phrase "2012 phenomenon," and a page about human penis size.

Friendster Gives Dating Another Try

blogss 2:27 PM Asia , News , Others

Earlier this month, Malaysian based social-network-turned-social–gaming-website Friendster.com launched new dating features, allowing people to browse and hook up with potential partners online. Used widely as a dating website in the past, the new dating features of Friendster could be welcomed by many of its former users across Southeast Asia.

There are three dating-related features on the website: My Crushes, My Admirers, and My Matches. In the Crush game, users get to choose whether the pictures of potential partners are hot or not. If users say that the picture is hot, then they become an admirer of that person, and that person becomes a crush of the user in return. If both parties say that the other person is hot, then we have ourselves a match. Users can view these three features from the social dashboard.

Another big change is that Friendster is being far more choosy with users’ profile pictures. There is a requirement to add profile pictures with an emphasis on your face, and the pictures will then need to be approved from the Friendster team. When I tried using a picture with my face a little far away from the camera, the picture got rejected by the team. Other profile information is required as well, such as users’ sexual orientation.

There are on-site purchases that can be made using Friendster coins, including features to make profiles more easily discovered through search or through banner spaces. These coins can be bought online using several payment methods, including PayPal and Indonesian banks BCA and Mandiri.

Around two months ago, Friendster CEO Nikolai Galicia said that more than 50 percent of the site’s users come from Asia. Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines were the site’s top four countries, which is where Friendster had its social gaming platform. So you might find more search results when looking for potential partners from those countries.

By combining social gaming and dating features, Friendster could potentially make a huge comeback as one of the biggest dating social networks — at least in the Southeast Asia region. That alone would certainly be a good step.

[Source: Techinasia, Lowyat via Trenologi]

HP Envy 14 Spectre Review

blogss 2:21 PM HP , Reviews

PC-laptops were unattractive and thick, I remember it used be a black box with a battery that lasts for less than an hour, not to mention the heat and the noise, but after reviewing the HP Envy 14 Spectre I realized that things have changed in the PC universe.

The Spectre is a 14″ 1.8Kg i5-powered laptop from HP that combines elegant design with great performance, with Intel inside and Beats onboard you will definitely enjoy an excellent user experience.

On this side of the Spectre you can find the different IO ports; a Mini DisplayPort, 2 USBs, an HDMI input, ethernet, the audio jack and the built-in memory card reader, so the connectivity of this laptop is pretty awesome!

The Memory Card reader is an excellent addition if you are into photography and video production, you can import videos and photos directly to the laptop or just browse through them, you might say I can do that directly from the camera, but if you are covering a big event you can import and upload your photos faster than usual, your camera can be still free while your import the files.

The Spectre comes with a built-in Beats Audio System, which boosts the audio capabilities of the laptop, that’s one of the points I usually debate with friends about, I always compare the quality of music coming from my MacBook Pro with what ever is coming from their laptops, however I was impressed by the audio capabilities of the Spectre, it’s loud and high in quality as demonstrated in the above video.

Another nice feature in the Spectre is the backlit keyboard, very useful in the dark indeed!

If you are a PC and looking for a decent laptop, you can’t go wrong with Spectre from HP, sleek design, light weight and great performance.

Bad News for Sina Weibo: China’s New Internet Law Legalizes Deletion of “Illegal” Content

blogss 1:59 PM Asia , internet , News

China’s tightened internet controls were passed into law earlier today. As well as requiring broadband and mobile internet providers to have full ‘real name’ details of their customers (which pretty much happens already), the new 12-article law also mandates how all web companies operating in China must control what people post. That effectively legalizes the deletion of posts that contain what authorities deem to be “illegal” content or information.

Again, that’s close to what happens already in practice with the blanket self-censorship and fast-paced moderation that goes on on the Chinese web, as seen very clearly on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo. And so the new law will criminalize companies who do not censor the web with the kind of speed and efficiency that the law now dictates. That has huge implications for social companies like Sina (NASDAQ:SINA), Tencent (HKG:0700), and Renren (NYSE:RENN), and search engines from Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), Sohu (NASDAQ:SOHU), and Qihoo (NYSE:QIHU). In fact, it’s an extra strain on the whole internet sector in the country, with possible extra costs involved in the already weighty and arduous practice of removing dissent, as well as other genuinely illegal acts on the web.

It’s surely only a matter of time before one Chinese web company is held criminally responsible for content posted on its service. And what will happen then? A fine? The jailing of the relevant member of staff?

Using Xinhua’s presumably official version of events, the news agency summarizes this aspect of the new law:

Service providers are required to instantly stop the transmission of illegal information once it is spotted and take relevant measures, including removing the information and saving records, before reporting to supervisory authorities, the decision says.

It empowers supervising departments to take technical and other necessary measures to prevent, stop or punish those who infringe on online privacy, requiring relevant service providers to give support during investigations.

There are some positive aspects to all this, as it also puts into law measures that, Xinhua says, “will protect digital information that could be used to determine the identity of a user or that concerns a user’s privacy.”

But as with all new web controls in China, a country where the web is already massively locked down, many will worry that the tightened legal framework will be used to identify people who post online some ‘sensitive’ information, such as – to take a topical example – evidence of corruption among officials.

In practice, a lot of this is happening already, as with recent real name requirements for microblogs like Sina Weibo, or the long-standing need to show ID when buying a mobile SIM. For now, a lot of questions remain unanswered, such as how this affects wifi hotspots, or people who rent homes and whose broadband account will be in the name of the home-owner – and a lot of other issues and unknowns.

(Source: Techinasia)

A Year in UAE’s Search: Google’s Top Searches of 2012

blogss 1:47 PM Google , Trends , UAE

Gangnam Style, Whitney Houston and Hamdan Al Kimaly top the 2012 trending list for search queries

Dubai, UAE – 12th of December, 2012: Today, Google announced its annual Zeitgeist, a look at 2012 through the collective eyes of UAE residents on the web, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends based on searches conducted in the UAE.

This year’s trending searches show growing interest in political and social issues within the Arab world as well as globally in addition to a rising interest in electronic gadgets and entertainment news. This year’s Google Zeitgeist reveals that Emiratis are turning to the Internet as their number one source of information on-the-go.

Google’s top searches of 2012 in the UAE showcased the top 10 findings for trending search terms, trending people, TV shows, sports teams, athletes, Emirati Olympians, foods, travel destinations and fashion labels.

UAE’s Top Trending Query
Gangnam Style

UAE’s Top Trending Person
Whitney Houston

UAE’s Most Searched TV Show
Omar Series

UAE’s Most Searched Athlete
Cristiano Ronaldo

UAE’s Most Searched Sports Team
Barcelona

UAE’s Most Searched Emirati Olympian
Hamdan Al Kimaly

UAE’s Top Trending Travel Destination
Al Ain Al Sokhna

UAE’s Top Trending Food Search
Baklava

UAE’s Top Trending Fashion Label
Isabel Marant

You can find out the top 10 most-searched terms for each category by visiting the Google Zeitgeist website on googlezeitgeist.com and checking out the UAE tab for more in-depth information.

Trending in 2012: Searches Trending in 2012: People Most Searched in 2012: TV Shows

1. Gangnam Style 1. Whitney Houston 1. Omar Series
2. iPad 3 2. Shama Hamdan 2. Fatma Series
3. Olympics 2012 3. Kate Middleton 3. Zero Four
4. Samsung Galaxy S3 4. Yousef Al-Qardawi 4. Roya’
5. The Avengers 5. Felix Baumgartner 5. Sabah Al Khair
6. Skyfall 6. Usain Bolt 6. Hibir Al Eyoun
7. Hurricane Sandy 7. Karina Kapoor 7. The Voice
8. Ramadan Shows 2012 8. Mohamed Morsi 8. Arab Idol
9. Kony 2012 9. Adele 9. Arabs Got Talent
10. Syrian Revolution 10. Ibrahim Al Fekki 10. Molhaq Banat

Most Searched in 2012: Athletes Most Searched in 2012: Sports Teams Most Searched in 2012: In-Country Olympians

1. Cristiano Ronaldo 1. Barcelona 1. Hamdan Al Kimaly
2. Roger Federer 2. Real Madrid 2. Omar Abdulrahman
3. Kaka 3. Chelsea 3. Ahmed Khalil
4. David Beckham 4. AC Milan 4. Ahmed Al Maktoum
5. Lionel Messi 5. Arsenal 5. Khaled Issa
6. Maria Sharapova 6. Liverpool 6. Khadeeja Mohammed
7. Rafael Nadal 7. Zamalek 7. Mohammed Fawzi
8. Michael Jordan 8. Manchester United 8. Saeed Al Maktoum
9. Michael Schumacher 9. Manchester City 9. Rashed Issa
10. Xavi 10. Roma 10. Ahmed Ali

Trending in 2012: Travel Destinations Trending in 2012: Food & Drinks Trending in 2012: Fashion Labels

1. Al Ain Hot Springs 1. Baklava 1. Isabel Marant
2. Riyadh 2. Licorice 2. Michael Kors
3. Istanbul 3. Fettucini 3. Bershka
4. Vienna 4. Carob Tropical Pod 4. Ice Watch
5. Seville 5. Chicken Kabsa 5. Nike
6. Frankfurt 6. ‘Eesh Saraya 6. H&M
7. California 7. Daoud Basha 7. Forever 21
8. Chicago 8. Kafta 8. Saint Laurent
9. The White House 9. Baba Ghanoush 9. Celine
10. Barcelona 10. Arugula Salad 10. Alexander Wang

In addition showcasing what people were curious about in UAE, Google Zeitgeist tools also offer insight into which topics captured the world’s attention in 2012. Top search terms from over fifty countries appear on our Google Zeitgeist webpage, googlezeitgeist.com — from most-searched travel destinations in Brazil, to trending Australian celebrities, to most-searched Egyptian Olympians, to top tech gadgets in Japan and everything in between.

To see more information about Google Zeitgeist across the globe, use interactive data visualizations and to watch our annual video, visit googlezeitgeist.com.

What is Google’s Year-End Zeitgeist?

Google reveals the internet “Zeitgeist” (German for “the spirit of the times”) through an exploration of the over one trillion search queries we receive each year. In addition to the Year-end Zeitgeist, which highlights the top trends of 2012, we also have several tools that give insight into global, regional, past and present search trends. Google Zeitgeist tools can never be used to identify individual users because we rely on anonymized, aggregated counts of how often certain search queries occur over time. These tools are available year-round for you to play with, explore, and learn from: google.com/zeitgeist

About Google Inc.Google’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

Du announces data plans for Nokia Lumia

blogss 1:38 PM business , Market , News , Nokia

Following the recent launch of Nokia's Lumia Windows Phone 8 range in the UAE, du is offering the Lumia 920 and the Lumia 820 with a possible 24 GB free in the first year of subscription for new customers.

At the Lumia range's Middle East November launch, Nokia announced du as the official operator partner for the Windows 8 smartphones in the UAE. Existing customers of the Dubai operator's Elite, Emirati and Pay as you Go plans will receive up to 1GB free data on a monthly minimum bill of AED250. New Elite and Emirati plan customers will also get an additional 4GB data per month for the first 3 months from the time of activation.

"We strive to continuously expand and enhance our portfolio of bundled data offers and smartphones. Combined with our data offers, the Lumia Windows 8 range offers a compelling proposition for avid smartphone enthusiasts on the move, " said Farid Faraidooni, chief commercial officer, du.

"Nokia is proud to have du as our official operator partner for the Lumia Windows Phone 8 in the UAE. We have been working closely together to ensure that our customers get the best possible smartphone experience and value from this strong partnership," said Vithesh Reddy, general manager, Nokia Lower Gulf.

"The Nokia Lumia smartphones have an unprecedented range of features and applications that will revolutionise the industry, and online connectivity plays a big part in that. The ability to use social networks with speed and ease is one of the key differentiators of the Lumia range, so providing up to 24GB in a year for our customers is in line with our commitment to providing added value with the purchase of our products," he added.

(Source: ITP.net)

DStv Gets More Social, Launches Facebook App To Handle Customers

blogss 1:32 PM Africa , Market , Others , social media

South African digital satellite pay-tv company, DStv has today launched a Facebook app to handle its subscribers complaints and requests directly on the popular social network.

The DStv Facebook app lets users post requests about reconnecting their DStv decoder, upgrading or downgrading their DStv bouquets, make inquiries about their subscription due dates as well as related technical support functions.

Subscribers would be required to send details such as their full name, mobile number, smart card number, and provide any other information such as error message on their screen or payment details, etc that are relevant in order to get support from its customer care via Facebook.

This move shows that the company is getting its digital media strategy right and is willing to listen to its customers and reflects its commitment to improved customer service delivery.

However, the PayTV company has been criticised for lack of quality programming and service quality.

(Source: Techloy)

11 Must-Have Games and Accessories for Your New Xbox

blogss 1:24 PM Game Apps , Reviews , Xbox

You're the proud owner of a shiny new Xbox 360. With scores of classic games and plenty of add-ons, there are so many different options available that it can be overwhelming to choose what's right for you. And as a new gamer, it's even more difficult to feel like you're making an informed decision.

Well, Here's a handy guide to everything you'll need to get the most out of your new system. From the best accessories to the most engaging games, there's not a bad investment in the bunch -- and you'll enjoy your Xbox 360 more than you ever thought possible.

1. Another Controller

If you haven't gotten a second controller now, it's a very wise investment to get one soon. While Xbox games usually thrive on smart, single-player campaigns and online multiplayer, several excellent games -- like Borderlands 2 -- are taken to a new level in local co-op mode. Plus, if you're looking to pick up any party games designed for multiplayer, a second controller is a definite must.

While Xbox makes proprietary wireless controllers at a very reasonable price (and a few limited edition ones, if you desire to be fancy), there are also some worthwhile third-party options to consider, depending on your needs and budget. The big choice is simple: Go wireless, or stay wired? It all depends on play style and your cash flow, but the allure of wireless is hard to resist.

Whatever you decide, you'll definitely find that a second controller will come in handy.
2. Rechargeable Battery Packs

This is another no-brainer item that will save you major money in the long run. Xbox controllers can really gobble up AA batteries, and there's nothing more frustrating than having to cut your game time short and head out to your nearest drug store because you have no more batteries left to feed the system.Rechargable battery packs are simple, easy to use, and can often double as a great storage area for your controllers in the off-time.

A full suite of proprietary Xbox rechargeable battery packs and a charging system is a bit of an investment, around $75. But with 40 hours of gameplay loaded into a single charge, there's a big opportunity for the system to eventually pay for itself (and save a lot of batteries from the landfill). If you're looking to save some money, you could also snag a good charging system from Energizer for around $35, including battery packs -- rechargeable battery packs are definitely a product you that benefits from third-party invention.
3. Xbox Live Gold

Really, owning the Xbox is only half the fun -- the system can accomplish much more once it's hooked up to the Internet. From massive multiplayer throwdowns to quality time streaming Netflix, Xbox Live Gold supercharges the whole console and makes it an all-around entertainment system for the whole family.

A year-long membership of XLG runs $60 (around $5 per month), and it essentially allows games and other applications to access the infinite power of the Internet. Gamers can engage in online multiplayer combat under their Xbox Live gamer tags and also access extended content in the form of community-created levels and the like. You'll also unlock significant value in the media options that come with an XLG membership: Netflix, HBO Go and Rdio are fantastic services that require a Gold membership to access.

If you plan on using your system for more than just solo gaming, this purchase should be top priority.
4. Amazing Xbox Live Arcade Offerings

Sure, you probably already have a couple games for your new console already, but there are plenty of worthwhile investments you can pick up and play on your console without setting foot in a brick and mortar store. Xbox Live Arcade has come a long way in the last few years; you'll find some high-quality games and downloadable content definitely worth a try -- and you'll be able to get most of them for a mere fraction of the price of a traditional game.

Xbox Live Arcade plays host to pretty much every earthshakingly awesome indie game that has come out in recent memory, so don't hesitate to snap up the ones that suit your play style. Notables include 2008's Braid, Castle Crashers andWorld of Goo, 2010's Super Meat Boy, 2011's Limbo and this year's Fez andSpelunky -- each an all-star title that will keep you entertained for hours. If extras are what you're after, be sure to pick up some of XBLA's downloadable content to augment your current games and add new features.

Whatever you do, don't ignore XBLA -- it gives old games new life and exposes you to new games you wouldn't have seen otherwise. Download away!
5. Halo

Halo is the series that put Xbox on the map and defined its core audience -- hardcore gaming folks drooled over its layered gameplay and sharp controls, while casual gamers lauded the high-octane multiplayer scenarios. And unless you've been living under a rock for the last decade, you know the kind of powerHalo wields on the console.

Take this opportunity to jump into Master Chief's shoes and fight for the future of the human race. Halo 4, the series' most recent installment, came out just in time for the holiday season. It features hallmark campaign and multiplayer modes with a really interesting storyline, to boot. But if you're less enthusiastic for the new title (or the steep, new game price tag), you can always pick up 2007's Halo 3 for some great gaming at a fraction of the price. You'll still be able to get a feel for the game's amazing artillery and killer online play.

Above all else, this game is Microsoft's baby -- its historical significance alone makes it an essential to any Xbox library.
6. Kinect

After the 360 was on the market for a few years, Microsoft decided to innovate ways to refresh gameplay without scrapping the system entirely. The result, of course, was the Kinect -- released in 2010, the peripheral add-on added motion capture and camera abilities to the Xbox's repertoire. The accessory is a bestseller and features both expanded gameplay for traditional games and unique original titles that capitalize on its many features.

The technology of the Kinect is fascinating (you can read all about it here). It allows players to not only control their Xboxes via voice but also with hand motions and gestures. There are many titles that show off the Kinect's many abilities, but something as simple as asking your Xbox to play your DVDs feels pretty magical. The Kinect is also the Xbox's "party game" accessory, since its original titles are often geared toward younger and casual gamers who enjoy playing with their friends.

Although it only costs a hundred bucks, the Kinect will make you feel like you're from the future -- years after its release, it's still super cool.
7. Dance Central

Dance Central did for the Kinect what Halo did for the Xbox: Made it huge. Group dancing games have steadily increased in popularity over the years (Dance Dance Revolution, anyone?), but Dance Central actually tracks your dancing instead of relying on button pressing or holding a motion-sensing baton. The result is a super fun and high-energy series that is addicting to play once you get off your couch and start moving.

The latest installment of the series, Dance Central 3, came out earlier this year and is the sharpest title yet. Full of choreography scaled to your skills and plenty of hits (see: "Call Me Maybe"), Dance Central 3 actually gets people dancing. The game is also a master class for the Kinect: The cameras are highly accurate and really push people to go for more complex moves. Whether you'll notice it or not, this game will actually make you a better dancer.

Oh, and it has "Gangnam Style" as DLC. Can we say party game?
8. NBA 2K13

This roundup would not be complete without a sports title that shows off some of the best graphics and AI out there. There's a game to suit nearly every sports fan, but really, none comes close to NBA 2K13. Arguably the most advanced and realistic sports game out right now, NBA 2K13 can actually trick your companions into thinking you're just watching sports on TV. Yes -- it's that good.

The reason this game stands head and shoulders above the rest is that it's jam-packed with content that would make anyone -- not just NBA fans -- oddly excited. From unlocking Justin Bieber as a playable character to rocking out to the sweet playlist crafted by none other than rap star and Brooklyn Nets godfather Jay-Z, you just have to try these features. Beyond that, the on-court action is absolutely breathtaking -- the pacing, the physics and even little player quirks make it all feel, well, real. It's insanely fun and a standout in a genre full of all-stars.

As a new game, it's a bit of an investment, but the game's comprehensive and immersive features make it a can't-miss.
9. A Great Headset

By this point, you've picked up an Xbox Live Gold account and plenty of games to take advantage of an online experience, but you're not quite outfitted until you have a reliable headset. An overwhelming portion of the Xbox Live community rely on headsets to effectively communicate in-game, without friction. And, when playing a games that require a heavy amount of cooperation among online players, you're going to want to make your voice heard, too.

Headsets are another feature that have their own proprietary models, as well as a few supreme third-party offerings, if you're interested in something fancier. Looking for something cheap and cheerful to get you off the ground? You can score an Xbox 360 branded headset for around $20. Want to look like you're from the future or a corporate bigwig? Xbox also offers a wireless earpiece that looks like a lightweight bluetooth device for $40. And, if you want to be so immersed in a game that you feel like you're living it, third party hardware developers make high-rolling headphone/headset systems with increased bass and high-definition audio transmission for about $100.

Any way you slice it, you'll need a headset if you want to truly own the online space.
10. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Every once in a while, a game comes along that will take over your life. You may find yourself sinking hour after intriguing hour into the story, captivated by the life you've created and functioning in a new and interesting society. You'll start creating goals and having ambitions in that world -- maybe even more lofty than your own. In case you didn't notice, Skyrim is totally that game.

The Elder Scrolls series, crafted by Bethesda Networks, has evolved over time into a massively expansive world full of rich history and notable voices. Skyrimplaces the character as the Dragon Born, a gifted person who can commune with the dragons of old. From there, everything you do is entirely up to you: You can play with honor and valor, or you can surreptitiously murder everyone and spend the rest of your life on the lam from the local law. The main quest is full of epic battles and fun missions, but you can sink plenty of hours in side quests and just plain wandering around.

Add to that some expansive DLC (Vampirism! Riding dragons!) and you have hundreds of hours of gameplay immersion.
11. The Mass Effect Trilogy

If dragons, guns, dancing and basketball aren't really your thing, then run, don't walk to your nearest gaming outlet and purchase the Mass Effect series. This amazing and critically acclaimed trilogy has captured the minds and hearts of many gamers, and the full arc of the adventures of Commander Shepard, the soldier destined to save the world against hostile alien forces, is truly a sight to behold.

As Shepard, you will navigate the future of the human race while facing the challenges of entering an intergalactic community with aliens of all kinds. You'll assemble a team of lovable and zany colleagues, fight some pretty gnarly characters and even romance an alien or two.

The core gameplay is divided into two modes: battles and conversations. Battling is straightforward: Select the class skills of Shepard from the outset and tailor your team to complete different objectives. Conversations, of course, are more difficult -- Shepard is a highly influential person in the galaxy, and it's up to you to make important decisions that may have devastating consequences in the long run. The best part, of course, is that you can import your character over all three games, taking with you the many decisions you've made over time.

Images courtesy of iStockphoto, scooby53, Microsoft Studios

(Source: Mashable)

Behance Acquired by Adobe to Further Its Creative Cloud Ambitions

blogss 4:12 PM Adobe , business , Creative Cloud , Game Apps

With Behance, Adobe is looking at bringing community features to its Creative Cloud platform. Creative Cloud is Adobe's subscription based service for professionals that offers access to desktop software as well as online tools and storage place.

A big part of Adobe's future plans for Creative Cloud are focused on the way that users can interact, collaborate and share with one another. "We always knew community would be an important element of Creative Cloud," Scott Morris, Adobe's senior marketing director for Creative Cloud and Creative Suite, told us. "The more we looked at Behance, the more we realized it made sense to make it part of Adobe."

"Today Creative Cloud is a place where you can access your creative tools and services and with Behance, where you can also publish your portfolio," Morris continued.

Behance has a post on its blog announcing the move to Adobe.

While Adobe is going to integrate Behance into its web tools -- and eventually its desktop tools (meaning users can publish to their portfolios directly from Illustrator or InDesign or Dreamweaver) -- Behance as we know it isn't going away.

Behance's CEO Scott Belsky is joining Adobe as the Vice President of Community. Moreover, Adobe is keeping Behance's office in Manhattan. The plan, Morris told us, is to treat this acquisition the same way Adobe as treated Typekit.

Since being acquired in 2011, Typekit has continued to operate its own website and offer its own plans that are separate from the Creative Cloud TypeKit integration.

As for Behance, Morris isn't sure if Adobe will continue to offer its ProSite feature as a paid service, if it will be part of Creative Cloud or if it will be made free to all users. The existing free Behance accounts will continue to exist and new sign-ups will still be accepted. On its blog, Adobe clarified that ProSite features will be available to Creative Cloud users. What hasn't been decided for now, Morris told us, is that featureset will be limited to Creative Cloud users moving forward.

(Source: Mashable)

Spotify Reveals Top Music, Artists and Apps of 2012

blogss 4:07 PM internet , Market , Spotify , Trends

Music-streaming service Spotify just released a comprehensive 2012 recap of its most-popular songs, albums, artists, radio genres and apps.

Everything on Spotify's "Review of the Year" page is clickable and will lead you to either the desktop music player or mobile application to listen to your selection.

Meanwhile, iTunes also unveiled its top albums, songs, movies, shows and episodes of 2012.
Best of Spotify in 2012

Most popular band: Coldplay, who rocked the Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony

Most popular female: Rihanna, who is also the most-liked person on Facebook

Most popular male: David Guetta, whose songs are frequently coveredon YouTube

Most popular track: "Somebody I Used to Know," one of the most viewedvideos

Most popular album: Nothing but the Beat

Most shared track: "Somebody That I Used to Know"

Most shared artist: Adele, whose 2011 album is the top-selling iTunes album of 2012

Most shared album: Nothing but the Beat
Top 100 Songs

You can filter the top songs by country, 16 in all. This shows the top 10 for U.S. listeners, but a link on the Review site leads to the top 100 playlist:

Most Popular Radio Genres

1. Pop

2. Hip Hop

3. Dance

4. Country

5. Rock

6. Alternative

7. R&B

8. '90s

9. '80s

10. Indie

Top Apps
Lyrics app Tunewiki and Soundrop, which lets you join a room to hang out with like-minded listeners, were the most popular Spotify apps in 2012. Explore the other apps here.

Julian Assange Promises a Million New Leaks in 2013

blogss 3:57 PM News , Others , Wikileaks

Julian Assange promised in a rare speech Thursday evening to release more than a million files in the coming year which would affect "every country in the world."

"Despite an unprecedented criminal investigation and campaign to damage and destroy WikiLeaks, 2012 has been a huge year," said Assange. "Next year will be equally busy. WikiLeaks already has well over a million documents to release."

Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks and an Australian native, gave his speech from the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy. He's been holed up there since mid-June to avoid extradition to Sweden, where police want to question him about allegations of sexual misconduct. He has not been charged with any crime by any country.

Assange has said in the past that he fears being sent to the United States, which he believes wants to prosecute him for WikiLeaks' release of classified American diplomatic and military intelligence.

During Thursday's balcony address, he reiterated those fears.

"The U.S. investigation is referred to in testimony under oath in U.S. courts, is admitted by Department of Justice and by the District Attorney of Virginia as a fact," said Assange. "It’s subpoenas are being litigated in the courts. The Pentagon reissued its threats against me in September and claimed the very existence of WikiLeaks is an ongoing crime."

"My work will not be cowed," he continued. "But while this immoral investigation continues, and while the Australian government will not defend the journalism and publishing of WikiLeaks, I must remain here."

He did, however, offer to speak with "anyone who wishes to speak to me."

Video Review Of The Nokia Lumia 920

blogss 4:20 PM Nokia , Reviews

Nokia Lumia 920 is arguably the most powerful, feature-rich Windows phone available yet, the Lumia 920 offers almost all of the features that you’ll ever need in a smartphone.

The Nokia Lumia 920 is one of the more interesting smartphones i've played around with, but I still think it's a brick.

Watch the video review of the Nokia Lumia 920 below to find out why.

You can also catch the full written review right here.

Konami Sets Up Shop in Singapore, Hungry for Talent

blogss 4:03 PM Konami , News

The gaming and entertainment giant Konami has recently set up a base in Singapore and is fanatically looking for talented game developers and artists to join its new team.

It was said that the office is set up “to create friendly competition” among Konami’s U.S and China offices. But Takahashi remains tight-lipped on what that exactly means.

While Konami is active in Southeast Asia, it seems that its preferred non-smartphone platform for mobile games is TMG’s Kotagames, So far Konami has already launched Hisho Collection Mall Empire and Sengoku Collection Samurai Fantasy (in open beta) on Kotagames. The result has been pretty good, But of course there is always room for improvement and Konami is working closely with the folks at TMG to improve its Kotagames platform.

Facebook amends privacy features

blogss 3:57 PM Facebook , social media

The new facilities will allow Facebook's 1 billion members to review photos, comments and profiling data pertaining to them that is displayed across the world's largest social network. Users will also be able to request removal of any photo in which they appear.

Also amended are the conditions under which apps can access personal data and send messages on behalf of a user. Where previously users would agree to both actions with a single click, apps will now be required to submit separate requests.

The privacy control panel, accessible through a single shortcut, is the latest in a long line of changes to Facebook's privacy tools, which have drawn a wave of criticism over their usability.

"When users don't understand the concepts and controls and hit surprises, they don't build the confidence they need," said Facebook director of products Sam Lessin.

In the past, user confusion over what personal information is seen by others has led to clashes between Facebook and the US Federal Trade Commission. In April the social media firm reached a settlement with the trade agency that required consultation with users before the sharing of personal data. Facebook is also subject to 20 years of independent audits as part of the arrangement.

3 Tech Companies That Changed the World, Then Went Bankrupt

blogss 3:52 PM Market , Reviews , Tech Quiz

What could take a multi-billion-dollar corporation from the top of its game to the gutter?

Or lets take Napster for example. After it launched in 1999, members flocked by the millions to the revolutionary free music sharing site. And though it fundamentally changed the way we saw the music industry and the Internet, lawsuits and injunctions ended its brief bloom just two years later.

Take a look at this infographic, courtesy of Total Bankruptcy, and learn what these companies contributed to our lives and what led to their ends.Please leave your comment and let know how could a company avoid bankruptcy?

Korean Government Awards Google

blogss 3:12 PM Asia , Google , internet

Korean pop star PSY’s smash-hit Gangnam Style video has more than 943 million views on Youtube, and that number is only climbing. PSY doesn’t represent the entirety of Korean culture, of course — not even close — but the success of PSY and artists like him in Youtube is part of why the Korean Ministry of Culture gave Googlea special achievement award yesterday for helping to spread Korean culture.

K-Pop is just one aspect of Korean culture available on Youtube; the service also hosts Korean films and TV shows.

K-pop has been increasingly popular outside of Korea and its success on Youtube is probably a big part of why Google was given this award. According to Google, the number of Youtube users viewing K-pop music videos has risen rapidly over the past three years.

In a post on its Korea blog, Google responded to the award with this:

We are greatly honored to receive this meaningful award. But this award is not really about YouTube — we’re just the platform. This is a reflection of the incredible creativity and ingenuity of Korean content creators who have captured the imagination of the world.

[Source: Google Korea Blog]

Google Maps now available as iPhone app

blogss 2:34 PM Game Apps , Google , iPhone , News

Three months after Apple removed Google Maps as a built-in map and replaced it with its own product, Google said Wednesday that its revised map was finally approved by the iPhone maker to be listed in the Apple app store.

"People around the world have been asking for Google Maps on iPhone," wrote Daniel Graf, Director of Google Maps for Mobile, in the company blog. "It's designed from the ground up."
Google redesigned the app to show more map on screen than the previous version that was quashed by Apple for iPhone. The map also "loads more quickly and provides smooth tilting and rotating of 2D and 3D views," Graf says.

When users search for a place of interest, say a restaurant, an expandable information sheet at the bottom shows the address, opening hours, ratings and reviews, images and directions. The map contains more than 80 million businesses and points of interest, Graf says.

Google also installed voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation, which was missing from the previous version. Live traffic conditions, public transportation information, Street View and Business Photos that show photos of inside places are also included.
The Google Maps app is available with any iPhone or iPod Touch that runs iOS 5.1 or higher.

This Sept. 12 photo shows Apple's iPhone 5 in San Francisco, California.(Photo: Glenn Chapman, AFP/Getty Images)In launching its latest mobile operating system, iOS 6, in September, Apple replaced Google Maps — one of the most popular apps on iPhone — and introduced its own map. Reviews of Apple's map, which used data from Dutch map maker TomTom, were mostly negative. And users aired complaints that it was laden with errors, misplaced cities and towns, rendered wrong directions and was missing some key features including public transportation data.

Google reminded iPhone owners that its map was available through a browser but that did little to assuage its fans who wanted a direct and quicker access to it as an app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook issued a rare apology in late September and urged users to try other map apps, including MapQuest and Waze. "We are extremely sorry for the frustration (the map) has caused our customers and we are doing everything we can to make Maps better," he wrote. "We launched Maps initially with the first version of iOS. As time progressed, we wanted to provide our customers with even better Maps including features such as turn-by-turn directions, voice integration, Flyover and vector-based maps. In order to do this, we had to create a new version of Maps from the ground up."

Following the maps debacle, Scott Forstall, Apple's head of mobile software, was ousted in October partly due to his refusal to sign a letter to Apple customers apologizing for the map's flaws.

Bar code inventor, Norman Joseph Woodland dies at 91

blogss 2:19 PM News , Others , Reviews , Tech Quiz

From Usatoday:

Norman Joseph Woodland, the co-inventor of the bar code that labels nearly every product in stores and has boosted productivity in nearly every sector of commerce worldwide, has died. He was 91.

Woodland died Sunday in Edgewater, N.J., from the effects of Alzheimer's disease and complications of his advanced age, his daughter, Susan Woodland of New York, said Thursday.

Woodland and Bernard Silver were students at what is now called Drexel University in Philadelphia when Silver overheard a grocery-store executive asking an engineering school dean to channel students into research on how product information could be captured at checkout, Susan Woodland said.

Woodland notably had worked on the Manhattan Project, the U.S. military's atomic bomb development team. And having already earned a mechanical engineering degree, Woodland dropped out of graduate school to work on the bar code idea. He stole away to spend time with his grandfather in Miami to focus on developing a code that could symbolically capture details about an item, Susan Woodland.

The only code Woodland knew was the Morse Code he'd learned in the Boy Scouts, his daughter said. One day, he drew Morse dots and dashes as he sat on the beach and absent-mindedly left his fingers in the sand where they traced a series of parallel lines.

"It was a moment of inspiration. He said, 'instead of dots and dashes I can have thick and thin

bars,'" Susan Woodland said.

In the early 2000s even bar code tattoos became popular.(Photo: Tom Tingle, The Arizona Republic)

Woodland and Silver submitted their patent in 1949 for a code patterned on concentric circles that looked like a bull's eye. The patent was issued in 1952, 60 years ago this fall. Silver died in 1963.

Woodland joined IBM in 1951 hoping to develop the bar code, but the technology wasn't accepted for more than two decades until lasers made it possible to read the code readily, the technology company said. In the early 1970s, Woodland moved to Raleigh to join a team at IBM's Research Triangle Park, N.C., facility. The team developed a bar-code-reading laser scanner system in response to demand from grocers' desires to automate and speed checkout while also cutting handling and inventory management costs.

IBM promoted a rectangular barcode that led to a standard for universal product code technology. The first product sold using a UPC scan was a 67-cent package of Wrigley's chewing gum at a supermarket in Troy, Ohio, in June 1974, according to GS1 US, the American affiliate of the global standard-setting UPC body.

Today, about 5 billion products are scanned and tracked worldwide every day.

Woodland was born Sept 6, 1921, in Atlantic City, N.J.

Woodland and Microsoft founder Bill Gates were among those honored at the White House in 1992 for their achievements to technology, four months after President George H.W. Bush appeared amazed at a demonstration of a grocery checkout machine.

(Culled from Usatoday)

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